Hope College will host its baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 10, when the largest graduation class in Hope鈥檚 history will gather.
The 815 members from the Class of 2026 will attend one of two scheduled baccalaureate worship services at Dimnent Chapel 鈥� at 9:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. 鈥� led by Rev. Dr. Nathan Hart, who is the Hinga-Boersma Dean of the Chapel. Hart will also lead the benediction during the commencement ceremony. The 11:30 a.m. baccalaureate service will be from Hope鈥檚 YouTube channel and can be viewed on computers and most mobile devices.
Weather permitting, the commencement ceremony will be held at the Ray and Sue Smith football stadium at 3 p.m. Tickets are not required for guests of graduation candidates for the outdoor ceremony. However, tickets are required should the commencement ceremony move indoors at DeVos Fieldhouse due to inclement weather. A maximum of three guest tickets per student will be permitted. Students were sent a form to order rain-location ceremony tickets in advance. The ceremony will also be on Hope鈥檚 YouTube channel.
Commencement Speaker
This year鈥檚 commencement speaker is Hope鈥檚 head football coach and kinesiology professor , who will be introduced by Acacia Dykstra, president of Hope鈥檚 Student Congress. Stuursma joined Hope in 2016, and has embodied the college鈥檚 commitment to competitive excellence and character development. Prior to returning to his alma mater, he earned his master鈥檚 degree in physical education and sports administration from the University of Northern Colorado. He established a legacy of success in coaching high school football by guiding East Grand Rapids High School to 13 state playoff appearances 鈥� including seven state championships, five of which were consecutive titles 鈥� during his 16 years there. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2020. Additionally, he served as the East Grand Rapids Middle School principal for nearly 11 years.
Since taking the helm of Hope鈥檚 football program, Stuursma has led the Flying Dutchmen to a 74-20 overall record and 49-9 mark in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) play. Additional achievements include three MIAA conference championships and back-to-back NCAA Division III playoff appearances 鈥� a first in program history. His tenure is marked by a deep commitment to the student-athlete experience, emphasizing discipline, teamwork and leadership 鈥� both on and off the field. Stuursma鈥檚 philosophy extends beyond wins and losses, focusing on preparing young people for meaningful lives and careers after Hope.
Additional Commencement News
Hope College President Matt Scogin and Provost Gerald Griffin will lead the commencement ceremony, which will also include the H.O.P.E. (Hope Outstanding Professor-Educator) award presentation. Alexander Cook, vice president and controller of Hope鈥檚 Student Congress, will present this annual award. The H.O.P.E. Award is a prestigious honor presented annually by the graduating class to a faculty member who epitomizes outstanding teaching.
This year鈥檚 commencement will also celebrate the second graduating class of the Hope Forward pilot program, with 34 students receiving their diploma.
The Hope College Bookstore will be open on Sunday, May 10 from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. The bookstore is located on the lower level of the DeWitt Cultural Center, on the west side of Columbia Ave. between 10th St. and 13th St.
In a separate commencement ceremony at the Muskegon Correctional Facility, 10 candidates from the Hope-Western Prison Education Program will receive their Bachelor of Arts degree in faith, leadership and service, on May 19. This is the second graduating class of the Hope-Western Prison Education Program.
To inquire about accessibility or if accommodations are necessary to fully participate in the event, guests are asked to email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.